The NFL offseason is a time for meetings and partings. Meetings are roster additions who, with any luck, improve the team. Partings are the underachieving veterans who are no longer worth the price of business. After speculation to the contrary, the Dallas Cowboys just determined two questionably-performing veteran starters fall into the former category and will be retained for the 2026 season.
28-year-old right tackle Terence Steele and 29-year-old safety Malik Hooker appeared to be on the chopping block this offseason. On the books for $18,125,000 and $8,852,941 respectively, the two veterans struggled mightily in 2025. Steele ranked just 51 of 84 in PFF grades, struggling specifically in pass protection where he ranked among the NFL’s worst. Hooker’s play at safety dropped for the second consecutive year grading out 64 of 91 in PFF score. He specifically saw a decline on coverage ability, switching from a heavy single-high safety role to more split safety looks.
Given their ages and performance trends, one could easily say the best is behind both players. At costs that place both players in the Cowboys’ top 12 cap hits in 2026, it’s understandable they faced an uncertain future in Dallas. Yet, out of faith in the coaching staff and because of higher priority needs elsewhere on the roster, the Cowboys decided to bring both back next season.
Reworking the contracts of Steele and Hooker prior to the new league year (March 11, 2026), the Cowboys have all but guaranteed their return. It was a determination that seemed fairly inevitable when it was announced the salary cap would balloon this year and an act that ensures a certain baseline standard of play in the new season.
Given the Cowboys’ needs elsewhere, this was nearly unavoidable. With Donovan Wilson testing the free agent waters, the Cowboys couldn’t afford to replace both starting safeties in a single offseason. Depth players such as Markquese Bell seem ill-equipped to hold down starting positions in Christian Parker’s revamped defense and free agency lacked many alternatives who were both affordable and reliable. Even with Hooker penciled in as free safety next season, Dallas still needs at least two new additions via free agency and/or the 2026 NFL Draft to fill holes. Bringing Hooker back simply makes this positional rebuild doable this year.
Steele, a consummate professional and plus-level run blocker, has never been good in pass protection yet Dak Prescott has still found a way to stay alive in the pocket. As long as Tyler Guyton can improve a little at left tackle, the Cowboys should be able to survive another season of subpar pass protection on the right edge. Steele is beloved by teammates and coaches and positionally only ranks 11th among right tackles in APY. By most accounts he’s fairly priced these days.
With so many massive needs on defense the Cowboys couldn’t afford to start over at RT this year. Nate Thomas did not look up for the job last year and free agent options are expensive and scarce. Unless willing to use a first-round pick on an offensive tackle next month, the Cowboys weren’t likely to find an upgrade amongst the rookie class.
Both players underachieved in 2025, but both players are still worth brining back because the Cowboys simply need them to be.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys Hooker, Steele survive chopping block, team needs them to work
Reporting by Reid D Hanson, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
